Inspired by New York City's historic Gramercy Park, James Nicolay set out to recreate the peaceful serenity of a quiet oasis in the midst of a bustling city.  Instead of copying its namesake park's historic features, the goal was to recreate the same ambiance in a elegant, contemporary style.

Evoking the elegance of Manhattan' lower East Side, the project's restrained palette, subdued color scheme and geometric layout creates an ambiance which sets Ningbo Gramercy Park a world away from its surroundings.  Entering the project via a tree-lined cobblestone roadway, the garden spaces on either side immediately connote a quiet serenity. A series of varied garden spaces provide places where residents can sit, stroll, relax and enjoy their own private park in a central part of town.

Taking design cues from the historic New York City private park, the design features both public and private park spaces with crisply-detailed pavilions overlooking formal lawns and gardens. The pavilions and matching fences re-create the famous 19th century wrought-iron fences & gates of its Manhattan namesake - but with a character appropriate to a 21st century community.

A formal rose garden re-creates the historic oval parterres of the project's namesake - complete with a central sculpture and park benches. Within private park spaces, formal rectilinear lawns with neatly trimmed trees and mature shrubs frame long vistas terminating at focal pavilions, sculptures and garden elements. 

A central sunken courtyard connects residential, recreational and model areas as a focal point of the project's initial sales area.